High Wind Warning

“Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will… put breath in you, and you shall know that I am the Lord… Prophesy to the breath; say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ezekiel 37:4-6,9; Luke 24:49; Acts 2:1-4

The flashing signs stood as electronic sentinels as the highway approached the long, high suspension bridge. WARNING: HIGH WIND ON BRIDGE. USE CAUTION. Wind whipped across the bay, on either side, foamy curls scalloping the blue gray water with white. Kite surfers raced at high speed, criss-crossing the surface with fully-billowed, brightly-colored sails. Ascending with the other cars, my hands gripped the steering wheel, preparing to hold firm against gusts. All around were signs of the wind’s power, and I knew the higher I got, the more I would be swayed.

We may not see a flashing sign, but it is true that as we climb higher with the Lord in our Christian life, we better get ready, because the Spirit’s wind will blow hard to move us, to have its way in every area of our life. Each time I open God’s word and invite the Holy Spirit to convict, cleanse, and instruct, I could heed the bridge warning: high wind, take caution. When the Holy Spirit is blowing He will interfere with my thought life, my inclinations, my deepest desires. I can expect Him to expose what I prefer to keep hidden, from myself and others, to steer my affections in new directions, and to move me to new areas of willing service.

As I look ahead, will I prepare for the climb, and commit to forge on, no matter the disruption? Will I cross the bridge from status quo to new adventure? Relationships from ordinary to extraordinary? Conversation from banal to significant? My days from fruitless expenditures to fruitful enterprise and ministry? Am I willing to exert the energy to ascend into God’s high winds and allow them to persuade and sway and change me?

“Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.”  ~Daniel Iverson (1890-1977)

Lord, my Captain and Guard, steer me into the high winds of your Spirit, and give me courage to keep climbing with You. Blow Your life into me and Your Spirit’s power through me, that my encounters with You change me forever. (John 3:8)